MP welcomes safety changes at railway station

MP Jonathan Reynolds has welcomed action taken by bosses at Stalybridge Railway Station to ensure there is always access to both platforms.

Last month there was an occasion when passengers turned up at the station for the first Manchester-bound train of the day to find they could not get to the platform.

In order to get to there they needed to pass through the ticket hall, but when they arrived for the 6.34am train they found the gates into the building were locked.

Most passengers took taxis to the stations at Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Airport. However a small number of commuters were so determined to catch the train that they jumped onto the tracks from the other platform and ran across.

Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds was so concerned by the incident that he wrote to station operators First Transpennine Express to seek assurances this could not happen again.

Now he is pleased that the company has decided the subway at the station will remain open permanently.

This means that in future passengers will have a safe route to the platform - even if the station is closed.

Welcoming the action, Mr Reynolds said: "When I heard about the incident at Stalybridge Railway Station I was extremely concerned.

"Crossing railway tracks is extremely dangerous and can never be condoned. However I also felt strongly that passengers should not have been put in that position.

"First Transpennine Express are continuing to conduct an investigation into this particular incident, but they have already indicated that the subway will remain open at all times in the future.

"This means that passengers will be able to access both platforms at all times - and I am pleased that the company has taken this swift action."

Mr Reynolds understands that First Transpennine Express is continuing their investigation into the incident, which occurred on Friday 25 January, 2013.